Weddings are supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life—but for one bride, the night before turned into a nightmare.
Kelly Stech suddenly experienced a health scare on the night before her wedding to her now-husband Benjamin (Kennedy News and Media)
Kelly Stech, a 30-year-old hairdresser from Chicago, Illinois, had spent a year planning her dream wedding to her now-husband, Benjamin. The couple invested nearly $50,000 into their big day, but stress and illness collided in the worst way possible, leaving Kelly unable to even smile in her wedding photos.
From Ear Pain to a Life-Changing Diagnosis
Just a week before the big day, Kelly began feeling under the weather. She described ear pain when swallowing and even visited urgent care, but doctors initially found nothing wrong.
Things took a turn when she woke up with swollen, blistered ears. She was prescribed steroids and antibiotics, but by the night before her wedding, her symptoms worsened—leaving the right side of her face completely paralyzed.
Kelly said she woke up on her wedding morning to a blistered ear (Kennedy News and Media)
“I was vomiting non-stop, exhausted, and then realized I couldn’t move one half of my face,” Kelly shared. Instead of celebrating at her rehearsal dinner, she was rushed to the hospital.
The Shocking Cause: Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
Doctors first suspected an allergic reaction to medication, but Kelly was later diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, a rare condition triggered by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus. According to the Mayo Clinic, it can cause painful shingles rashes, facial paralysis, and even hearing loss.
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Half of Kelly’s face ended up being paralyzed due to Ramsay Hunt syndrome (Kennedy News and Media)
Stress doesn’t directly cause Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, but it can weaken the immune system, making it easier for dormant viruses to resurface.
A Wedding Day Unlike Planned
Despite the devastating diagnosis, Kelly refused to cancel her wedding. On October 6, 2023, she walked down the aisle—but not without making adjustments. She cut her guest list from 200 to 50 and strategically positioned her bridesmaids to cover her paralyzed side.
“It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but I didn’t want people to think I looked miserable because I couldn’t smile,” she said. “I couldn’t drink, I was in pain, and so, so tired.”
She said her wedding day was supposed to be perfect (Kennedy News and Media)
Thankfully, Kelly has since regained movement in her face. Now eight months pregnant, she reflects on the experience as a powerful reminder of what “in sickness and in health” truly means.
Her Advice to Other Brides
Kelly now encourages couples to let go of the small wedding details that cause stress:
“Don’t worry about the weather, the shoes, or the flowers. Be grateful you’re in this moment. No one wants to end up paralyzed on their wedding day.”
For anyone planning a wedding, her story is a sobering yet hopeful reminder: the day is about love, not perfection.
